Jeremy Goebel's Vocation Story

            I grew up on the west side of Evansville in a large family with eleven brothers and sisters. I’m the youngest in my family and I’m very close with my parents and siblings. I went to Resurrection Grade School, also on the west side of Evansville, and graduated from Mater Dei High School in 2006. At Mater Dei I wrestled and played football all four years. After high school I wrestled and attended Rend Lake College in southern Illinois for a year. Following my year at Rend Lake, I attended the University of Southern Indiana here in Evansville for a year and a half. I was studying Elementary Education there and I really learned a lot. I met some great people and had an overall good experience there.

            Before my senior year of high school, I went on a retreat weekend called TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). It was the first time I had ever pursued God or a real faith life in any way. That weekend was the first time I heard God’s call to seminary and the possibility of the Priesthood. I didn’t want to join the seminary at first, which is why I went searching elsewhere my first few years of college. After a lot of changing and trying different things at USI, it seemed that God’s call wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. So, I hesitantly gave in and signed up to join seminary in January, 2009.

            I can honestly say that this was the best decision of my life. I’ve never been happier and more at peace than I have been these past few years. Seminary has its challenges, but for myself the rewards of real fulfillment and happiness have surpassed any obstacles. Seminary life is great and not quite what I thought it would be coming in. I’ve lived in a prayerful environment with daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and the Divine Office. But other than the prayer life, I’ve really enjoyed the human aspect of living in the seminary. The brotherhood is amazing there. You live with other guys who are all discerning God’s will. We help each other out and I’ve made a few life-long friends along the way. Aside from prayer and discernment in a community, there’s more freedom than I had expected. We get to participate in events on campus, play sports, go on camping trips, and really enjoy the college experience. For me, the seminary has been a great experience and an opportunity to deepen my faith and learn more about where God wants me in the world.